A dad was "lured into" drug dealing after criminals higher up the chain threatened to "cut him up", a court has heard.
Cheryl Mottram, prosecuting, described how this number had been in use since early March and was "active at all hours of the day, particularly in the mornings". A text which "simply stated the word 'mobile'" was regularly distributed in order to advertise the illicit substances for sale. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
The defendant claims that his role was initially to act as a driver before he was tasked with collecting money. However, the loss of a quantity of cash and an electric bike which he had been given as transportation was "put on him", and his creditor and his "associates" subsequently visited his home and "threatened to cut him up".
"More than that, he was extremely concerned for his family. Of course, the answer to that was that he should have gone to the police. He accepts and acknowledges that. It is simply an explanation as to how this man suddenly became involved." "This defendant is in fear. He wishes to absent himself from this area as soon as possible and start afresh. Those who spoke of him speak of him highly. There are two sides to him."